Concentric Circles Board Game

ABSTRACT

A game in which two players each attempt to occupy more spaces on a grid with their assigned playing tokens and also attempt to move a playing token to a center space on the grid. The grid, which may be mounted or printed on a board, includes four concentrically aligned circles and four perpendicularly aligned main connectors. Extending radially from the outer most circle to the inner most circle and from the outer most circle to the inner intermediate circle are intermediate and short segments, respectively. Intersections, called spaces, are formed where the main connectors and the segments intersect the circles. The object of the game is for the players to occupy the greatest number of spaces by adding new tokens or moving previously played tokens in a prescribed manner. Some moves result in the player&#39;s token being switched or replaced by a token owned by opposing player. The game ends when a player is unable to place a token on a space or when a player advances a token into the board&#39;s center space.

This non-provisional patent application is based on and claims the filing date benefit of U.S. provisional patent application (Application No. 62/558,963) filed on Sep. 15, 2017.

Notice is given that the following patent document contains original material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyrights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to abstract strategy board games in which players follow simple rules to occupy the greatest number of spaces on a board while also racing to a finish space on the board.

2. Description of the Related Art

Abstract strategy board games are board games between two players wherein players pose different puzzles or challenges to each other on a board. Examples of commonly played abstract strategy board games are chess or checkers.

Another ancient abstract strategy board game played by two players is the game of GO. The object of the game of GO is for one player to capture more territory on the board than the opponent. The board is divided into a grid comprising 19 horizontal lines and 19 vertical lines resulting in 361 intersections (called ‘points’). Each player is assigned to a uniquely colored stone which the players take turn placing on a vacant point on the grid. When one player places a stone on a vacant point, the open points on the grid surrounding the occupied point are known as ‘liberties’. When a player stones are placed on adjacent points, a ‘chain’ is created.

During play, an opposing player either places a stone on an open point or on a liberty point. If all the liberties points surrounding a stone or a chain are occupied by the opposing player, the surrounded stone or the entire chain is ‘captured’ and must be removed from the game. then removed from the board.

To score the game of GO, the number of empty points a player's stones surround are counted with the number of stones the player captured. The player with the highest score is declared the winner.

Although the above rules appear simple, several other rules (i.e. the ‘rule of liberty’, the ‘ko rule’, the ‘rule of suicide’ and the rule of ‘komi’) make the game of GO complex.

What is needed is an alternative abstract strategy board game between two players easier to play than the game of GO and includes a racing termination aspect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel and unique abstract strategy game board similar to the games of Chess, Checkers and GO wherein players attempt to control areas on a board. The rules of the board game govern how the player's game pieces, called tokens, are initially placed on the spaces on the board, how the tokens on the board game may be moved, how one player's token game piece may be switched to the other player's token, how movement of the tokens may be moved inward and outward on the board and how the tokens may be moved into the center space to end the game. The result is a board game that is fast moving, strategically challenging, constantly changing board game.

The game is played between two opposing players trying to control the greatest number of junctions, called ‘spaces’, on a playing board. The playing board includes four concentrically aligned circles with a common center axis, also called the center space. Extending radially from the center axis and crossing the four circles are four perpendicularly aligned main connectors. Extending radially from the outer most circle to the inner most circle are four intermediate segments. Extending radially from the outer most circle to an intermediate circle located adjacent to the inner most circle. Spaces are formed where the four main connectors, and eight segments intersect the three outer circle.

The object of the game is for a player to control the greatest number of spaces on the board at the end of the game. During the game, players take turns placing a new token or moving a previously played tokens over open spaces in a prescribed manner. At the start of the game, the players place two tokens on opposite end spaces on longitudinally aligned main connectors. During a play, a player can either place a new token on an open space or move a previously played token to a new open space. Depending on the arrangement and occupancy of the adjacent space, opposing player's tokens located on adjacent spaces may be flipped and placed under control of the other player. The game ends when a player is unable to place or move a token or when a player advances a token into the center space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the game apparatus comprising a board, a grid printed on the board, and two tokens assigned to each player which are placed on the opposite ends of full diameter segment.

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the board showing the outward movement of a token from a space on the second intermediate circle to a space on the outer most circle, space A.

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the board showing the token shown in FIG. 2 being moved to a space A on the outer most circle and the two tokens owned by the opposing player adjacent to the token at space A being flipped to the opposing player's token color.

FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view of the board showing a player controlling the white token having the option of placing a white token at space A or space B.

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of the board illustrating improper movement of a player controlling the white token in which the rules prevent movement to space C or to space D occupied by the player controlling the black token.

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view of the board showing the player controlling the white token having the option of sliding the white token to an open space to the right and blocked from sliding to the left space occupied by a black token.

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of the board showing a white token sliding outward to a space on the outer most circle and showing the two black tokens on adjacent spaces being flipped.

FIG. 8 is a partial top plan view of the board showing the white token being moved laterally on the circle to space A or B, if moved to space A, then the two black tokens are flipped to white.

FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view of the board showing a white token moving outward to space A surrounded by surrounded by a black token that is flipped.

FIG. 10 is a partial top plan view of the board showing a black token surrounded by two black tokens and being moved inward to space A on an inner circle.

FIG. 11 is a partial top plan view of the board showing a black token surrounded by two pairs on black tokens on two adjacent circles and being moved inward to a space located on a second intermediate circle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Game apparatus 10 includes a board 12 with a grid 16 printed thereon and at least two sets of colored tokens 200, 300 each assigned to a player. The grid 16 comprises four concentrically aligned circles—a large outer most circle 20, a small inner most circle 40, and two intermediate circles 60, 80. The diameters of the two intermediate circles 60, 80 are sufficient so that the two intermediate circles 60, 80 are evenly spaced apart between the outer most circle 20 and inner most circle 40.

Extending transversely over the outer most circle 20 and approximately 90 degrees apart are two full diameter segments 100 and 110. Diameter segments 100, 110 intersect at center axis 120 and form two pairs of main connectors, 102, 104 and 112, 114, respectively.

Extending inward from the outer most circle 20 to the center axis 120 are four intermediate segments 130. The intermediate segments 130 are approximately 45 degrees apart from an adjacent main connector 102, 104, 112, or 114. Adjacent intermediate segments 130 are approximately 90 degrees apart. Each intermediate segment 139 is axially aligned with the center 120 and begins at the outer most circle 20, extends inward and crosses the two intermediate circles 60, 80 and terminates at the inner most circle 40.

Extending inward from the outer most circle 20 towards the center axis 120 are eight short segments 140. The short segments 140 are located between a main connector 102, 104, 112, 114 and an intermediate segment 130. The short segments 140 are approximately 22.5 degrees apart from an adjacent main connector 102, 104, 112, or 114 and the intermediate segment 130. The short segments 140 terminate at the intermediate circle 60 and are axially aligned with the center 120 and terminate at the intermediate circle 60 adjacent to the inner most circle 40 adjacent to the inner most circle 20. The short segments 130 are evenly spaced apart between an intermediate segment 130 and the main connectors 102, 104, 112, 114.

The outer most circle 20 has 16 spaces. The inner most circle 40 has 8 spaces. The intermediate circle 60 adjacent to the inner most circle 40 has 16 spaces. The second intermediate circle 80 adjacent to the outer most circle 20 has 16 spaces.

The intersection points between the circles 20, 40, 60, and 80 and the main connectors 102, 104, 112, 114, and the intermediate segments 130 and the short segments 140 are called spaces 150. The sections of the main connectors 102, 104, 112, 114, intermediate segments 130, and short sections 140 that extend between adjacent circles are called ‘connectors’. For example, the diameter connector 100 is divided into two main connectors 102, 104, which intersect the inner most circle 40, the outer most circle 20 and the two intermediate circles 60 and 80. As shown in FIG. 1, there are four connectors that make up main connectors 102, 104, 112 and 114. The last connector terminates at the center space 120. Therefore, in order to land on the center space 120 and end the game, the tokens must access the center space 120 along a main connector 102, 104, 110, or 112.

Tokens controlled by a player are known as ‘friendly tokens’. Tokens controlled by the opposing player are known as ‘unfriendly tokens’.

Initial Game Set-Up

One player is assigned to one set of tokens, 200 or 300 and the other player is assigned the other set of tokens, 200 or 300. Each set of tokens 200, 300 has the same number or tokens, i.e. 25. In the embodiment shown herein, each token in both sets 200, 300 has two color surfaces—a black surface and a white surface. It should be understood, the tokens in one set of tokens only have to be visually identifiable from the other set of tokens.

At the start of the game, each player then removes two tokens from their set of tokens and places them on the spaces 150 at the intersections of the main connectors 102 and 104 and 112 and 114 and the outer most circle 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The players choose a winner color (i.e. black) and then flips a token to determine if a winner color (the player with a token that matches the chosen color is the first player). It should be understood that alternative ways to select a first player may be used, (rolling a tie, flipping a coin, etc).

Game Play

The object of the game is for one player to control the most spaces 150 on the grid 16 when the game ends. Each player may place or deposit one of their assigned tokens on an open space adjacent to a space between two friendly tokens located on the same circle. during a play. Alternatively, each player may move one of their tokens already placed on the board to a new space (see FIG. 4). A player cannot place a token on an occupied space. A player also cannot place a token on an open space located adjacent to a space occupied by a friendly token on an adjacent circle, (see FIGS. 5 and 6). When a player moves a token outward (or inward) to a space between two spaces currently occupied by the opposing player, the tokens on the two spaces flip, (see FIG. 7).

A player may slid along a line on the circle to an open adjacent open space (see FIG. 6. A player may also slide a token outward along segment or main connector to an open space at any time. (see FIG. 7).

A player may jump over and move a friendly token to a space along an arc line along a circle two spaces away from its current location (see FIG. 8). If the space is open and surrounded by one or more connecting tokens owned by the opposing player, the surrounding unfriendly tokens are automatically flipped and become friendly tokens. A player may also jump a token two spaces along a connector located two circles away, (see FIG. 9). A player may move a token one circle inward along a connector to an open space if there are friendly tokens adjacent to the starting space, (see FIG. 10). A player may also move a friendly token two circles inward along a connector to an open space if there are friendly tokens occupying the two adjacent spaces to the starting space as well the two adjacent spaces to target space, (see FIG. 11).

A game ends if a player is unable to place or move a token or if a player advances a friendly token into the center space 120. When the end of the game is declared by a player, each player then counts the number of spaces 150 they control. A space 150 is controlled only if the space 150 is occupied by the player's token. The player who controls the most spaces 150 wins the game. In event the players control the same number of spaces 150, a tie is declared, and the game is replayed.

It should be understood that the grid 16 is not limited to four concentric circles 20, 40, 60, 80 nor is it limited to four main connectors 100, 104, 110, or 114, nor is it limited to four intermediate segments 130 or limited to eight short segments 140. The game may be adjusted to include a greater number of concentric circles, 20, 40, 60, and 80, or greater than or less than the number of intermediate segments 130 and short segments 150 may be used. The spacing shown in the Figs. may also be changed.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents. 

I claim:
 1. A game apparatus, comprising: a. a planar board with grid comprising an outer most circle, an inner most circle, and two intermediate circles located between said outer most circle and said inner most circle, said four circles being concentrically aligned with a common center axis, said grid includes two perpendicularly aligned diameter segments that intersect at said center axis, said diameter segments form main connectors that extend radially from said center axis to said outer most circle and extending across said inner most circle and said intermediate circles, said board includes four intermediate segments aligned with said center axis and extend radially between said outer most circle to said inner most center, said grid also includes eight short segments aligned with said center axis and extend radially between said outer most circle and said intermediate circle adjacent to said inner most circle, said grid include spaces formed at locations where said diameter segments, said intermediate segments and said short segments intersect with said outer most circle, said inner most circle, and said intermediate circles; and b. at least two sets of uniquely identifiable tokens adapted to be placed over one said space on said board.
 2. A method of playing a strategy game between two players, comprising a. providing a board comprising a grid that includes an outer most circle with a center axis and at least three concentric circles axially aligned inside said outer most circle and coaxially aligned with said center axis, said grid including two main connectors perpendicularly aligned and aimed at the center axis, said main connectors begin at said outer most circle and extend inward towards said center axis and intersect with the said three concentric circles, said grid including at least four intermediate segments aimed at said center axis and extending from said outer most circle to the inner most circle, said intermediate segments being evenly spaced apart around said center axis, said grid also including at least eight short segments aimed at said center axis and extending from said outer most circle to an intermediate circle located adjacent to said inner most circle, each said main connector and said intermediate segments and said short segment being made up of connector lines; b. providing a plurality to tokens, each being assigned to one or two possible visual identifiers; c. providing each player with a set of tokens assigned to a unique visual identifier; d. placing two initial tokens assigned to each player at the opposite ends to one of said two main connectors that intersect the outer most circle; e. selecting a first player and a second player, said first player plays first one of the follow plays, followed one of the following plays by the second player; f. selecting and placing a new token assigned to the player over an open space adjacent to said token initially placed over said space on said outer most circle where a main connector intersects; or, g. moving one of said tokens to an open space adjacent to one of said tokens located along the circle placed on said circle in Step d or f; or, h. moving one of said tokens to an open space adjacent to said token, said open space being located along a connector that extends outward to an adjacent circle; or, i. selecting one of said tokens to an open space located two spaces away from said token and moving said token along a connector between said circles; or, j. if there are tokens assigned to said player occupying two adjacent spaces to a token along a circle that belongs to the player, then moving said to an open space adjacent to said selected token along connector and moving said token inward to an adjacent circle; or, k. if there are tokens assigned to a player occupying two adjacent spaces to a token located on a space along a circle and both spaces are adjacent to said token along a connector extending between adjacent circles, then moving said token to an open space located inward along said connector; l. converting or replacing any existing tokens belonging to one player to the other player who places a token adjacent to said selected token from the previous step to tokens; and, m. or converting or replacing any tokens adjacent to a space now occupied by said

n. wherein the game ends when a player moves into the center space or neither player can move a token to an open space on the board, and the player who occupies the greater number of spaces on the board at the end of the game is declared the winner. 